Hard to believe that 2020 is in full swing! A new decade makes us pause and wonder what God has in store for us. Will this be the year where we cast out fears and truly embrace who God has created us to be? Fears can sometimes hold us hostage and keep us from thriving in all aspects of our lives. It’s truly a recipe for disaster!
“Do the thing you fear, and death of fear is certain.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
During fearful times we must remember that we are never alone. Within me and you lies the same power, the Holy Spirit. For those who have put their faith in Jesus, we never have to journey through this life as a solo sojourner. God is right there with us on our Unique Paths.
For the Lord has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you," so that we may confidently say, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6)
How might you like this year to be different?
Perhaps, we need a new Recipe for Success!
Let’s start with a list of Ingredients:
Courage
The first ingredient is a dash of courage! Beginning anew is not for the faint of heart. Remember the lessons you learned in 2019, but don’t linger too long in the past. Did you know that the fear of failing is often more traumatizing than the fear itself? This is what keeps us stuck. We must gather our courage daily, just like Manna in the Old Testament. This ingredient must be fresh daily. How do we manifest this courage? We lean into the Lord daily and He will equip us for the tasks that lie before us.
Philippians 3:13 says, “ Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.”
Determination
A spoonful of determination. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is start. Failures will happen, it’s how we respond to failure that will define us. We can let our failures cause us to doubt and be discouraged or we can choose to learn and persist. It’s ok to grieve your failure, but take it to your friend, Jesus, for a fresh perspective. Remember, He always has the best plan for your life. Determination is undoubtedly a key ingredient to your success. You must actively stir that into your recipe daily. "God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 1Timothy 1:7
Wonder
A dollop of wonder! Remain curious. Wonder can bring some much-needed spice to your recipe! Perhaps you need to make a change because the flavoring of that recipe isn’t quite right. Don’t be so stubborn or stuck in your way, that you can’t give yourself some creative liberties. It may be just what your recipe needs! “We make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” Prov 16:9
Recipes are not always easy. They take time and planning. Sometimes a recipe turns out great and the next time it’s a failure. Bottom line…keep cooking! Your recipe for the new year may look different than ours. If so, we would love to hear about your success ingredients! Feel free to share them in the comments section.
In closing, did you know that verses addressing fear have over 365 references in the bible? One "fear" scripture for every day of the year! Isn’t God amazing?! He knew that our journey would not be easy, so He equipped us through His Word to keep persevering. We must learn to overcome fear by walking in faith. If you are feeling stuck or struggling to make that first step this new year, please reach out to us for a FREE Discovery Call! We would love to help! Let's get cooking!
Kelli